Manufacture of applicators



Oct. 29, 1940.

J. F. SKOLD 2,219,755

MANUFACTURE 0F PPIICATQRS Original Filed Oct, 26, 193.9 2 Sheets-Sheet l fZz/erz Z7527 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNiTED STATES MANUFACTURE oF APPLIoA'roRs John F. skola, chicago, 111., assignor to charles E. Zimmerman, Chicago, Ill.

Original application October 26, 1939, Serial No. 301,343. Divided and this application June 3,

1940, SerialNo.` 338,669

9 Claims. (Cl. 164-17) The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of pad-like applicators. More particularly the invention relates to the manufacture A of that type of applicator which is formed of f* elastic material such as porous rubber latex and has a pocket forming slit leading into its interior from the side or periphery and adapted tobe charged with the material to be applied in connection with the use of the applicator. ffyV One object of the invention is to provide a simple and novel method of manufacturing an applicator of the aforementioned type kwhich comprehends the formation inthe applicator of a pocket forming slit with a restricted side 15x entrance. j

Another object of the invention is to provide a 'method of applicator manufacture which comprises as steps, rst stretching one side of the applicator, then forming a semi-circular slit in 2li? and beyond the stretched portion and finally releasing the applicator so that it assumes its normal shape and has the desired restricted entrance pocket forming slit therein.

A' further object of the invention is to provide 25r a method which has particular utility in connection with the manufacture of a cosmetic applicator ofthe type which is disclosed in, and forms the subject matter of, United States reissue Letters Patent No. 21,399, issued on March 12, 1940,

36? to Charles E. Zimmerman and entitled Application of cosmetics.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present method of applicator manufacture will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the improved method which is hereinafter set forth and is more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion In the drawingsV which accompany and 'form a part of this specication or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the'several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a padlike applicator before it has been subjected to the improved method of manufacture for the purpose of forming in it a pocket forming slit with a restricted entrance;

Figure 2 is a plan View of an apparatus'for carrying ou-t the method; Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the ape 55: paratus, illustrating the manner in whichV the applicator is-slit While in a stretched condition; Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the applicator after it has been slit for pocket forming purposes in accordance Awith the improved method.

' The method which forms the subject matter of the invention comprehends the formation in al pad-liker applicator l of a pocket forming slit 8 with a restricted entrance 9; The applicator l which is shown in the drawings is in the form of a disc orcylindrical padv and is formed of porous latex rubber.` The slit 8 which is formed in the applicator serves as a pocket for the material to be applied by way of the applicator. It is substantially circular and isdisposed concentrically with respect tothe cylindrical side of the applicator. The entrance 9 of the slit intersects a portion of the cylindrical side or periphery of the applicator and permits the pocket which is formed by the slit 8 to* be filled-or charged with thematerial to be applied. If the applicator is used for applying cosmetic powder the restricted entrance 9 permits a charge of powder to be inserted into the slit. When the slit' is charged with pulverulent material, such as powder, such material percolates through the pores in the body of the applicator and hence may be applied by patting the applicator 'against the surface to be coveredr with the material. Whereas a disc-like or cylindrical applicatoris' shown in the draw-v ings it is to be understood that the improved method iscapable of :being employed in connec' tion with elastic applicators of other shape or contour. 'I'he method comprises as its steps, rst moistening the applicator with water, then gripping the applicator at the sides thereof, then stretching i-t toan appreciable extent, then forming in and beyond the stretched portion a semicylindrical slit and-finally releasing the applicator so that it assumes its original shape. When the applicator is released after slittingthe slit therein has the desired restricted entrance. The applicator is preferably moistened with water by immersing in abody of Water and then squeezing it. After removal from lthe body of water the app-licator'is squeezed so as to discharge all free Water from it. The purpose of moistening the applicator prior to slitting is to make it easier to slit the article while it is in a stretched condition. The moistening step is of particular advantage Whenthe applicator is formed of porous rubber latex. When the applicator is disc-like or cylindrical, as shown in the drawings, it is preff erably gripped at the end portions of a cordal line disposed midway between the center of the pad and the pad periphery and it is stretched until it assumes a crescent shape or semi-cylindrical condition. While the applicator is in such condition it is provided with the semi-cylindrical slit. Slitting is preferably accomplished by way of a circular rotary knife. When such a knife is employed the stretched portion of the applicator is moved toward the knife until the knife penetrates through the stretched side portion and enters the interior of the applicator tothe desired' extent. When the applicator is released after slitting it resumes its normal shape and, as previously pointed out, has a restricted slit entrance in its side portion.

Preferably the improved method of slitting isI` carried out in an apparatuslike that shown in Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings. Such apparatus comprises a fiat rectangular base plate I0, a rotary circular knife II and a unit` I2-for stretching the applicator and moving it into engagement with the knife for slitting purposes. The base plate is supported in any suitable manner and has in the central portion thereof a circular opening I3 through which the applicator after slitting may be dropped. The knife II- is located at the other end of the base plate and is disposed .in a horizontal position a slight distance above the plate. It is provided with a depending drive shaft I4 and this extends through a hole in the base plate and is coupled to the armature shaft of an electric motor (not shown). The unit I2 comprises a support I5 and a pair of grippers I5. The support has an arcuate recess I'I in the upper front portion thereof for accommodating a portion of the` applicator. It is disposed above, and extends transversely of, the base plate I0 at substantially the same elevation as the knife II. As shown in the drawings the support is mounted on the central portion of a horizontally extending rod I3 which is carried by a slide block 'I9 and a slide rod 20 so that itis shiftable laterally to and from the knife II. The slide block I3 is fixedly secured to one end of the rod IB and is slidably mounted von the rod 20. The lat- `ter overlies one side of the baseplate and extends longitudinally of the"latter. Brackets 2| extend between the base plateand the ends of the slide rod 20 and serve to hold the slide rod in a fixed position with respect to the base plate. Because of theV rod I8, the slide block I9 and the slide rod 20 the applicator support I5 is mounted so that it is movable horizontally to and from the rotary knife II. Thejgrippers I6 are positioned in straddled relation/with the applicator support I5 and are mounted on the rod I8 so that they are movable with the support to and from the knife in a horizontal plane. They are adapted to grip the applicator at the sides thereof and serve to stretch the applicator as the latteris shifted toward and into engagement with the knife II. Each of the grippers I6 consists of a lower member 22 and an upper member 23. The lower members of the grippers have aligned sleeve-like parts 24 onthe under side thereof and these parts are slidably lmounted on the rod i8 and together with the rod support the grippers so that they are movable or slidable to and from one another. The front` inner corners of the lower members 22 of the grippers are extended inwardly, as shown in Figure 2. They are adapted tounderlie the side portions of the applicator when the latter is supported or carried by the support I5` and are lconnectedto theends ofthe support by means of pivoted links 25. The upper members 23 of the grippers overlie the front portions of the lower members and are horizontally elongated. They extend transversely of the base plate I0 and are centrally fulcrumed or pivoted by way of pivot pins 26 which are carried by pairs of upstanding ears 21 on the front portionsof the lower members 22 of the grippers. The inner ends of the upper members 23 overlie the inwardly extended inner front corners of the lower members and are adapted when tilted or swung downwards to clamp the subjacent portions of the applicator against said inwardly extending inner `front corners of the lower members (see Figure 5). Vertically extending compression springs 28 extend between the lower gripper members and the outer ends of the upper gripper members and operate to urge the upper members into clamped relation with the applicator. When the grippers are in clamped relation with the applicator' and are shifted apart the applicator is caused to stretch, as shown in Figure 4. For the purpose of moving the grippers apart and effecting stretching of the applicator in connection with shifting of the applicator toward the rotary knife I I two horizontally extend-v ing rods 23 are provided. These rods are suitably supported above, and extend substantially longitudinally of, the base plate I0 and are divergent in the direction of the knife II. The lower members of the grippers are pro-vided on the top portions thereof with sleeve-like parts 30 and these are slidably mounted on the rods. Because of the fact that the rods diverge in the direction of the knife II the grippers are caused to separate and effect stretching of the applicator when the latter is carried bythe support and the grippers and is moved toward and into engagement with the knife I I. The grippers are so arranged that the applicator when carried thereby is horizontally aligned with the knife II. A handle 3I is applied to the lower member of one of the grippers and is adapted to be used in connection with shift of the grippers and support to and from the knife. The links 25 serve to hold-the support I5 in centered relation 'with the grippers during sliding movement of thegrippers o-n the divergent rods 29. For the purpose of automatically swinging the upper members of the grippers out of clamped relation with the applicator at the end of the retractile stroke of the grippers the upper members are provided with depending arms 32." These arms have at the lower ends thereof rollers 33 and the latter coact with angularly disposed cam blocks 34 in such manner that at the end of the retractile stroke or shift of the grippersthe upper members of the grippers are swung or tilted into released position with respect to the applicator. The cam blocks 34 are mounted on the base plate I0 and are positioned or disposed,as shown in Figure 2. A stop 35 o-n one of the rods 29 operates to limit movement of the grippersin the direction of the knife. In carrying out the improved method the grippers are shifted to their fullest extent away from the knife II. This operation results in opening of the upper members 23 of the grippers. While the grippers are in their open position the applicator to be slit is placed on the extended inner front corners of the lower grippermembers and is manipulated so as to bring a portion thereof into seated lrelation with the recess I1 in the support I5. Thereafter the handle 35 is grasped by the operator and is shifted toward the knife II. During the preliminary part of the shifting movement the upper members of the grippers are swung into gripping relation with the side portions of the applicator due to the action of the springs 28 and the fact that the rollers 33 leave the cam blocks 3d. During continuation of shift of the grippers in the direction of the knife the grippers move apart and eliect stretching of the applicator. When the grippers reach the end of their forward stroke they present the applicator in a fully stretched condition to the knife. In connection with completion of their forward stroke they bring the stretched portion of the applicator 'into contact with the knife and the latter effects or serves to form a circular slit in and beyond the stretched portion of the applicator. After slitting of the applicator by the knife the grippers and support are shifted away from the knife. During the retractile movement the grippers move toward one another and hence release the applicator from its stretched condition. As the grippers reach the end of their retractile movement the upper members are released from their clamped position with respect to the applicator due to the action of the rollers 33 and the cam block 3d.

As shown in Figure 4, the grippers grip the applicator at points only when they are Vshifted fully forwards so as to bring the knife into cutting engagement with the stretched portion and the knife penetrates through and beyond the stretched portion. As a result of this when the applicator is .released the slit has the contour shown by dotted lines in Figure 6 and embodies the restricted entrance 9.

'Ihis application is a division of patent application, Serial No. 301,343, iiled by me on October 26, 1939 (now Patent No. 2,213,721, dated September 3, 1940).

The herein described method results in the formation in the applicator of a pocket forming slit with a restricted entrance. It is essentially a simple one and may be carried out expeditiously.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of forming in an elastic porous pad-like applicator a pocket with a restricted entrance, which comprises first stretching one side portion of the applicator, then while said portion is stretched slitting the applicator through and beyond said portion, and nally re-` leasing the applicator so that it assumes its normal shape.

2. 'Ihe method of forming in an elastic porous pad-like applicator a pocket with a restricted entrance, which comprises first stretching one side portion of the applicator, then while said portion is stretched forming in and beyond said portion a semi-circular slit, and finally releasing the applicator so that it assumes its normal shape.

pad-like applicator a pocket with a restricted entrance, which comprises moistening the applicator, then stretching one side portion of said' applicator, then while the portion is stretched slitting the applicator through and beyond said portion, and nally releasing the applicator so that it assumes its normal shape.

5.`The' method of forming in an elasticporous pad-like applicator a pocket with a restricted entrance, which comprises iirst moistening the applicator, then stretching one side portion thereof, then while the portion is stretched forming in and beyond said portion a substantially.semi-circular slit, and then releasing the applicator so that it assumes its normal shape.

6. The method of forming in an elastic porous pad-like applicator a pocket with a restricted entrance, which comprises stretching one side portion of the applicator, then whilethe portion is stretched slitting the applicator by inserting a knife through said portion and into Yanother portion ofy the applicator, then withdrawing the knife, and nally releasing the applicator so thatv it assumes its normal shape.

'7. The method of forming in an elastic porous pad-like applicator a pocket with a restricted entrance, which comprises moistening the applicator, then gripping the applicator at'two marginal points at one side of the center, then stretching the portion of the applicator between said points, then while the-portion is stretched slitting the applicator by inserting a knife through said portion and into another portion of the application, then withdrawing the knife, and finally releasing the applicator so that it assumes its normal shape. v

8. The method of forming in an elastic porous disc-like applicator a pocket with a restricted peripheral entrance, which comprises gripping the applicatorV at the ends of a stantially midway between the periphery and the ends of the applicator, then stretching the applicator between the gripped parts'until the peripheral portion therebetween is substantially straight, then slitting the applicator by inserting a knife through the stretched peripheral portion and into other portions of the applicator, then withdrawing the knife, and finally releasing the applicator so that it assu-mes its normal shape.

9. That improvement which comprises stretching one side portion of an elastic pad-like applicator, then slitting the stretchedportion of the applicator, and finally releasing the applicator. so that it assumes its normal shape.

JOI-IN F. SKOLD.

cordal line sub- 

